unanswerable

adjective

un·​an·​swer·​able

ˌən-ˈan(t)s-rə-bəl,

-ˈan(t)-sə- 

: not capable of being answered

also : irrefutable

unanswerability

ˌən-ˌan(t)s-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē

-ˌan(t)-sə- 

noun

unanswerably

ˌən-ˈan(t)s-rə-blē

-ˈan(t)-sə- 

adverb

Synonyms

• accomplished
• certain
• inarguable
• incontestable
• incontrovertible
• indisputable
• indubitable
• irrefragable
• irrefutable
• positive
• sure
• unarguable
• unchallengeable
• undeniable
• unquestionable

Examples of unanswerable in a Sentence

the unanswerable assertion that she didn't know much about art but she knew what she liked

Recent Examples on the Web

Like other posthumous releases by trailblazers from Jimi Hendrix to J Dilla, this one is haunted by unanswerable questions. —Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2024

There’s no shortage of stories to tell, or unanswerable questions to ask. —Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2024

State committees charged with overseeing tax programs conducted just the one audit seven years ago, rendering many of those questions unanswerable. —Lulu Ramadan, ProPublica, 4 Aug. 2024

End of carousel Why some church leaders are so often hostile to experimental art and treat it as anti-faith is an unanswerable question. —Sally Jenkins, Washington Post, 31 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

unanswerable

adjective

un·​an·​swer·​able ˌən-ˈan(t)s-(ə-)rə-bəl 

ˈən-

: not answerable

especially : irrefutable

the arguments were unanswerable